1984 - Trickle's 47th ARTGO Win Comes at Illiana

 

Dick Trickle won the Molenaar Classic 100-lapper at Illiana Motor Speedway. Congratulating the winner is promotor Harry Molenaar and his wife Signe. – Bob Elman Photo

By Stan Kalwasinski

Schererville, Ind. (July 24, 1984) – Back on the winning track in the ASA-ARTGO Challenge Series competition, Dick Trickle captured the second annual Molenaar Classic 100 at Illiana Motor speedway on Tuesday night. The victory was the sixth Challenge Series win of the season for the Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., resident, who is the series’ current point leader.

The four-time ARTGO champion wheeled his Firebird to the 100-lap victory after taking the lead on lap 47. Ironically, it was Trickle’s 47th career series win. Trickle finished a quarter of a lap ahead of runner-up Larry Schuler.

Trailing that duo after 100 laps on the slightly-banked, half-mile paved oval was NASCAR star Bobby Allison, Al Schill, and Challenge Series rookie Scott Hansen. Only 10 cars of the starting 20-car field were running at the finish.

Utilizing a two-barrel carburetor on his 9:1 compression engine in his winning effort. Aske why he used the two-barrel carb, Trickle answered, “To take advantage of the 50 pound weight break.”

Rich Bickle Jr., led the led the first lap of the 100-lap grind which saw polesitter Bobby Dotter blow his engine, bringing out the first yellow of the race. When the green flag reappeared, Bickle continued to set the pace until lap 19 when Hansen drove underneath as the pair entered turns one and two.

Hansen was on top on lap 20 when Mel Walen spun in turn three, bringing out the event’s third and final caution. When the green light came back on, Hansen was the leader until lap 25 when Schuler ducked to the inside and took over first place as they battled through turns three and four.

Schuler quickly pulled away from the rest of the field, build up almost a half straightaway lead. Making his way to the front, Trickle moved into third place on lap 29 and took over second place from Hansen on lap 32.

Trickle then began to close the gap on Schuler, tracking down the leader and moving in for the lead, Lap 447 saw Trickle make his move for the front, moving alongside Schuler down the backstretch and taking the lead as the pair entered turn three.

From there on, it was all Trickle as he quickly established a comfortable lead. With Schuler not too far behind, Trickle built up almost a half lap margin over the rest of the field which included Hansen, Schill, Allison, fastest qualifier Mark Martin, and Dave Weltmeyer.

Lapping cars easily, Trickle eventually put the whole field down at least one la with the exception of Schuler and Allison. Allison battled with Martin, Schill, and Hansen and finally broke out into a clear third place on lap 60.

With the race winding down, Trickle, with Schuler a half lap behind, had better than a three-quarter lap lead over third running Allison. Running fourth and a lap down, Martin dropped out with mechanical issues on lap 93.

Martin’s lap time of 19.845 seconds was good enough for fast time honors.

A crowd of 4,460 fans witnessed the event, named in honor of longtime owner Harry Molenaar and his wife, Signe.


Results –

1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Larry Schuler,, New Lenox, Ill.
3. Bobby Allison, Hueytown, Ala.
4. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
5. Scott Hansen, Green Bay, Wis.
6. Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey, Ill.
7. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton, Wis.
8. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
9. Mel Walen, Shakopee, Minn.
10.Robert Hixson, Highland
11.Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark.
12.Jack Carey, Orland Park, Ill.
13.Joe Shear, Beloit, Wis.
14.Steve Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis.
15.Curt Cheshire, Hickory Hills, Ill.